[53] The Indian traders used to buy the transported Irish, and other convicts, as servants, to be employed in carrying up the goods among the Indians. The ill behaviour of these people has always hurt the character of the English among the Indians.—[C. T.?]
[54] No spy among his enemies.—[C. T.?]
[55] That is, since we had a friendly intercourse with each other. The frequent repetition of the word, Brethren, is the effect of their rules of politeness, which enjoin, in all conversations, a constant remembrance of the relation subsisting between the parties, especially where that relation implies any affection, or respect. It is like the perpetual repetitions among us, of Sir, or, Madam, or, Your Lordship. In the same manner the Indians at every sentence repeat, My Father, My Uncle, My Cousin, My Brother, My Friend, &c.—[C. T.?]
[56] In this speech the Indians carefully guard the honour of their nation, by frequently intimating, that the peace is sought by the English: you have talked of peace: you are sorry for the war: you have digged up the peace, that was buried, &c. Then they declare their readiness to grant peace, if the English agree to its being general for all the colonies. The Indian word, that is translated, be strong, so often repeated, is an expression they use to spirit up persons, who have undertaken some difficult task, as to lift, or move, a great weight, or execute a difficult enterprise; nearly equivalent to our word, courage! courage!—[C. T.?]
[57] The three tribes of the Delaware nation—the Unamis, Unalachtgo, and Minsi—were designated by the totems turtle, turkey, and wolf. The chief of the first of these was the head chief of the nation, being chosen and installed with great ceremony and rejoicing. See Heckewelder, Indian Nations, pp. 51, 53.—Ed.
[58] Meaning General Forbes’s army.—[C. T.?]
[59] i. e. Just ready to enter our country.—[C. T.?]
[60] Two of the prisoners mention their pleasure at seeing Post, and the fact that the Indians forbade them to communicate with him. See “Narrative of Marie le Roy and Barbara Leininger,” Pennsylvania Archives, 2nd series (Harrisburg, 1878), vii, pp. 401-412.—Ed.
[61] He was sent to collect the Indians together, to attack General Forbes’s army, once more, on their march.—[C. T.?]
[62] The creek, here called “Antigoc” was probably Venango or the French Creek, which the Delawares designated as Attigé.—Ed.